With Malcolm Butler firmly out of Bill Belichick’s reach, the new member of the Tennesse Titans can now tell all about his Super Bowl benching.
Butler chatted with the Boston Herald’s Jeff Howe and revealed some interesting tidbits surrounding his benching and the aftermath of it. Butler says to this day he hasn’t received an answer as to why Bill Belichick benched him in Super Bowl 52.
“I never got a reason,” Butler told the Herald. “I feel like this was the reason: I got kind of sick. I went to the hospital. They probably thought I was kind of late on the game plan; I wasn’t as locked in as I should be and could have been a matchup deal. It could have been anything. But Bill Belichick has been doing this for a very long time. He took a veteran out of Super Bowl XLIX (against the Seahawks) and put in a first-year rookie, and that turned out right, so you could never question his decision. It didn’t work out right (against the Eagles). It didn’t work out the best for me or him or the New England Patriots. But I can say he won more than he lost, so it is what it is. I always have love for New England, Bill Belichick, Mr. Kraft, all those guys. Life just goes on.”
As for his former Patriot teammates, the one guy that has shown a lot of concern towards the corner is QB Tom Brady. Butler claims the future Hall of Famer called him several times after the Super Bowl just genuinely showing concern.
“It means a lot,” Butler said. “I got several calls from Tom Brady before the Titans contract. After the Super Bowl, I got a couple calls from him. He was really concerned, and he just wanted to know what was going on or whatever.
“I really appreciate that from him.”
In the aftermath of the Super Bowl loss many Patriots fans showed immense support towards Butler and in the Patriots locker room that was almost certainly the case as well. For Butler, he continues to love his teammates and appreciates the fans support of him throughout his time in New England.
“Like I always said, New England fans, they really love me, man,” Butler said. “They loved me at times when they shouldn’t love me. I know that, and they know that, too. For the most part, they really had love for me. My teammates, they should have my back because I never disrespected any of my teammates. I never disrespected any of my coaches. I always respected their authority. I always try to carry myself in a good way. I always remember where I came from, work hard, do what you’re asked or told. The rumors, there is going to be stuff like that. Everybody is going to have their turn to get got or have false information put on them. That just comes with the territory. But everything worked out well. It is what it is.”
Despite the piss poor ending Butler claims he doesn’t have any hard feelings towards the Patriots organization or even HC Bill Belichick who made the idiotic decision to bench his top corner in a Super Bowl.
“I’ll always have love for New England,” Butler said. “From the custodians to Belichick, all the way to Mr. Kraft, I love those guys, my teammates. I like everything about New England, especially the fans. Those fans, they really had love for me and they still do. I will always remember where I came from, and I never could forget.”
See this is where Howe sort of loses me, I get you got a major exclusive getting Butler to talk. But shouldn’t you have followed that answer up with are you kidding me? How do you not have some sort of resentment towards Belichick? But of course maybe he did follow up and Butler skirted around the question. It would be in-human for Butler not to have some sort of negative feeling towards his former head coach. Hell half of New England thinks Belichick cost the Patriots the Super Bowl by benching Butler.
Well of course as time passes I am sure more and more will come out about this story. Butler’s benching is still highly controversial and unclear as to what actually happened. For all we know Butler committed a serious violation that the Patriots are keeping a secret to protect him. But for now, without any type of real answers from Butler or the Patriots one can only dream and make false narratives about the decision that caused the Patriots to fall back into the NFL abyss.
